Track-sander.



PATENTED DEG. 31,1907.

J. M. SMITH. TRACK SANDER. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23, 1907.

UNllTED STATES PATENT @FIEE.

JOSEPH M. SMITH, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONEHALF TOWILLIAM J. SAUNDERS, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

TRACK-SANDE R.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 31, 1907.

Application filed March 23, 1907. Serial No. 364,131-

WVorcester, in the county of lVorcester and State of Massachusetts, haveinvented a new and useful Track-Sander, of which the following is aspecification.

In the use of rotating worms for track sanders, it has been found thatwhile some forms are useful for wet sand, the same ones cannot beadvantageously employed when the sand is dryand vice versa.

The principal object of the present invention is to providemeans wherebythe same device can be used with equal efficiency for dry and wet sand.This'is accomplished by roviding a worm capable of efficiently deiveringwet sand and having means whereby the sand in a dry state is preventedfrom being discharged from the casing when the worm is not turning.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means foroperating the worm.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings which illustrate oneform in which the invention can be constructed and in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the end of a car showing the inventionapplied thereto. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the sander casing withparts in section. Fig. 3 is a plan of the same with the hopper removed.Fig. 4 is an end elevation. Fig. 5 is an elevation on an enlarged scaleof a detail, and Fig. 6 is a plan of another detail of the device.

The sand is held in a hopper 10 which is located on a casing 11 in whichis a shaft 12 carrying the worm 13. In order to guard against the drysand being discharged when the worm is not rotating, the latter is madein a tapering form with its large end at the discharge end of thecasing. The axis of the worm and of the shaft 12 is also inclined tosuch a degree that the bottom of the flights of the worm is onsubstantially a horizontal line parallel with the horizontal bottom ofthe casing. By tapering the worm and mounting it on an inclined axiswith the large end uppermost, it will be seen that the sand has to belifted in order to be discharged and that this shape in itself tends toprevent the accidental discharge of the dry sand from the casing.

It will be observed that the sand is discharged into contact with theworm at the small end thereof and in order to guard against the stoppageof the worm by the wedging of stones or any other hard object which isdeposited at the small end, the casing itself is made ta ering so thatit is substantially parallel with the adjacent surface of the flights asis indicated in Fig. 3. This is true also of the bottom. It will be seenthat the lower part of the casing 11 is semicircular in cross-sectionand tapered so that it corresponds with the shape of the worm at allpoints thereof.

Located adjacent to the large end of the worm is a discharge outlet 14:and between this outlet and the end of the worm is a wall 15 to hold thedry sand and prevent its being discharged accidentally. In order tofurther guard against the discharge of the dry sand, the end flights areprovided with longitudinal flukes 16 which are broad-faced and extendout toward the wall 15. When the worm stops, it will be obvious thatsuch of these flukes as are buried in the same will tend to prevent thedischarge thereof, while when the device is used on wet sand, they willserve to break it up and insure its discharge when the worm is rotated.

The shaft of the worm is provided with a rubber disk 17 serving as apacking to prevent the sand from getting into the bearing, and with acollar 18 at the other end for a similar purpose and to hold the wormand shaft in proper position.

For the purpose of driving the shaft of the worm, it is provided with aratchet-Wheel 20 which is operated by a pawl 21 pivotally mounted on ablock 22. This block is mounted on a lever 23 so that it may be adjustedback and forth and a set-screw 24 is provided for fixing it in adjustedposition. This lever is operated by a pin 25 located in convenientposition and bearing in a cup 26 in the top of the block 27 which isadjustable along the lever 23 and is held in adjusted position by aset-screw 28. By means of this adjustment, it will be seen that when theparts become worn so that the pin 25 is out of center with the cup 26 orthe pawl 21 out of proper position with respect to the ratchet-wheel,these blocks 22 and 27 may be adjusted to bring the parts to properposition.

The lever is normally held up by a spring 29 and is provided with aguide 30 fixed to the bottom of the car and having a vertical slotthrough which the lever passes.

The pawl 21 is guided in a passage 31 in the floor of the car throughwhich it passes. The top of the pin is protected by a swinging cover 23.

The operation of the device will be readily understood by thedescription above given.

While I have illustrated and described a particular form of theinvention, I am aware that many modifications may be made thereinwithout departing from the scope of the same as expressed in the claims.Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to the features of constructionshown, but

What I do claim is 1. A track sanding device, comprising a casing havinga substantially horizontal bottom, and a tapering worm conveyer inclinedat such an angle that the bottom of the con.- veyer is substantiallyparallel with the bottom of the casing, said casing being tapered sothat its sides are substantially parallel with the sides of the worm.

2. A track sanding device, comprising a casing, and a tapering wormconveyer mounted on an inclined axis, the lower part of said casinghaving a cross-section corre sponding with that of the conveyerthroughout its length.

3. A track sanding device, comprising a casing, and a tapering wormconveyer mounted on. an inclined axis, the lower part of said casinghaving a cross-section corresponding with that of the conveyerthroughout its length, said casing having a discharge opening at thelarge end of the worm, and a wall between the end of the worm and thedischarge opening.

4. A track sanding device, comprising a casing, and a tapering wormconveyer having its larger end at the discharge end of the casing, saidcasing having a wall extending upwardly from the bottom thereof at theend of said worm.

5. A track sanding device, comprising a casing, and a tapering wormconveyer having its larger end at the discharge end of the casing, saidcasing having a wall extending upwardly from the bottom thereof at theend of said worm, said worm having longitudinal flukes extending towardthe large end of the casing from its end flights.

6. A track sanding device, comprising a tapering worm mounted on aninclined axis and having longitudinal flukes extending from the flightsof the large end thereof.

7. A worm for a track sanding device hav ing longitudinal flukesextending from the flights at the discharge end thereof.

8. In a track sanding device, the combination of a casing having adischarge opening, an inclined shaft in said casing, a worm on theshaft, a ratchet-wheel connected with the shaft, a pawl for operatingthe ratchetwheel, and a lever with which said pawl is adjustablyconnected.

9. In a track sanding device, the combination of a worm, a ratchet-wheelconnected therewith, an operating lever, a block adjustably mounted onsaid lever, and a pawl pivotally connected withthe block for operatingsaid ratchet-wheel.

10. In a track sanding device, the combination of a lever, two blocksadjustably mounted thereon, one of said blocks having a cup-shaped upperend, an operating pin adapted to rest in said cup-shaped end, a pawlpivotally mounted on the other block, and a ratchetwheel adapted to beoperated. by said pawl.

11. In a track sanding device, the combi nation of an operating lever,two blocks mounted thereon, a pin adapted to engage one of said blocks,a pawl mounted on the other block for operatinga ratchetwheel, and aguide for said lever having a vertical slot through which the leverpasses.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH M. SMITH. Witnesses:

LOUIS W. SoUTHGATE, ALBERT E. FAY.

